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_____________________ I saw unhappiness deeply impressed co on his countenance but he endeavoured to welcome me cheerfully and he ^after ourwe mournful had exchanged our mournful greetings would have spoken on some other topic than that of our disaster had not Chap. 11 We were soon joined_____________________ I saw unhappiness deeply impressed co on his countenance but he endeavoured to welcome me cheerfully and he ^he ^^^after ourwe mournful had exchanged our mournful greetings ^after ourwe ^we mournful had exchanged our mournful greetings would have spoken on some other topic than that of our disaster had not Chap. 11 We were soon joinedBy^By^^^by^bybyElizabeth. Time had made great alterations inmade great alterations in her formform since I hadhad last beheld her.her.FiveFiveyearsyearsago before sheago before shewaswasa pretty,a pretty,good humoured girl with an understanding above her years good humoured girl with an understanding above her years Whom every oneWhom every oneloved,loved,andandhumouredcaressed .humouredcaressed ^caressed .She was now a woman in stature and expression ofShe was now a woman in stature and expression ofcountenancecountenancewhich was uncommonlywhich was uncommonlylovely —lovely —An openAn open&capacious for ^e head&capacious for ^^^e ^e headgave indications of a goodgave indications of a goodunderstandingunderstandingjoined to greatjoined to greatfrankness.frankness.Her eyes wereHer eyes werehazelhazelandandvery soft now through recent affliction they expressed sorrow. Her smile had som express edive very soft now through recent affliction they expressed sorrow. Her smile had som express edive ^ive greatgreat^^^^ofuncommon ^ofofuncommon uncommon mildness mildnessnownowthrough recentthrough recentafflictionafflictionallied toallied tosadness–sadness–Her hair was of a richHer hair was of a rich^^^^dark^darkdark auburn ^^^^her complexionfair ^her complexionher complexionfair fair and her figureand her figuresli mght sli mght ^ght and graceful.and graceful. She embracedwme with welcomed me with the greatestembracedwme with welcomed me with the greatestaffectionaffection "Your arrival, my bestdearest bestdearest ^dearest cousin," said she, give "fills me with hope. You perhaps will findgive "fills me with hope. You perhaps will findout some means to justify my poorout some means to justify my poorinnocent^innocent^^^guiltless^guiltlessguiltlessJustine. AlasAlasWho is safe issafe is she werewere convicted ^^^^of crime?^of crime?of crime?forIIbelie rely onbelie rely onher her innocence asher her innocence ascertainlycertainly as I do ononupon^uponuponmy own. Our ^Our Misfortune is doubly hard to us. us. IIWe ^We have not only lost that lovely darling boyboy but this poor girlgirlwhom I sincerely love, is to be torn away by even a worse fate – Alasfate – Alas if she is condemnedcondemned I shall nevershall never know joy moremoreBut she will notnot I am sure she will notnot and then I shall be happy againagain even after the d sad death of my little William." "She is innocent, my Elizabeth," saidd sad death of my little William." "She is innocent, my Elizabeth," saidI andI andthat shall be proved –proved – fear nothingnothing but let your spirits be cheered by the assurance of her aquittal.aquittal."How kind your are," replied Elizabeth, "everyyour are," replied Elizabeth, "every one else believes in her guilt, and that made me wretched for I would as surely believe in my wretched for I would as surely believe in my for I knew it to be it to be that it was ^thatthat it was impossible, impossible, and to see every one else prejudiced in so deadly a mannermanner rendered me hopeless and despairing." She wept—wept—"Sweet"Sweetniece"niece" said my father dryfather dry your eyes tears and do not give so sad sorrowful a welc- come to Victor who has been so long absent eyes tears and do not give so sad sorrowful ^sorrowful a welc- come to Victor who has been so long absent if she isis as you believe innocentbelieve innocent rely thaton the justice of ourthaton the justice of ourjudgesjudges & the activity with which I shall prevent the slightest shadow of partiality.partiality.We passed a few sad hours untillhours untill eleven o'clocko'clock when the trial was to begincommence andmM y fatherbegincommence ^commence andmM ^M y fatherand E fatherEl the rest of the family being obliged to attend asE fatherEl the rest of the family being obliged to attend aswitnesses Iacwitnesses Iac I accompanied them to the court. During the whole of this wretched mockery of justicejustice I sufferredsufferred living torture. ^It was to be decideddecided whether the result of my curiosity and lawless desiresdesiresdevices^devicesdeviceswould cause the death of two of my fellow beings.fellow beings. One a smiling babebabe full of innocence and joy,joy, the other far more dreadfully murderedmurdered with every agravation ignominyagravation ignominy infamy that could make thatthat murder more terrible.more terrible.memorable in horror.^memorable in horror.memorable in horror.Justine also was a girl of meritmerit and possessed qualities which promised to render her little worldlittle worldlife^lifelife happy; happy; now all was to be obliteratedobliterated in an d ignominiousd ignominiousgrave –; grave –; ^; And I the cause! A thousand times rather would I have confessed myself guilty of the crime ascribed to Justine,Justine, but I was absent when it was committedcommitted and such a declaration would have been ^been considered as the ravings of a madmanmadman and couldcould not have exculpatedexculpated her who suffered through me. The aff appearance of Justine was calm. She was dressed inaff appearance of Justine was calm. She was dressed inmorn mourningmorn mourning and her countenance, always engaging, was renderedrenderedby the solemnity of her feelings exquisite -lyfeelings exquisite -ly beautiful. Yet sheHer mann Yet she appeared confident inYet sheHer mann Yet she appeared confident ininnocenceinnocence and did not trembletremble although gazed atat and execrated by thousands. fothousands. fo For all the kind nesskind ness which her beauty might have gained from othersgained from others was obliterated by the rememberancerememberance of the enormity she was supposed to have committed. She was tranquiltranquil yet her tranquillity was evident constrained –evident constrained – and as her confusion had before been adduced as a proof of her guiltguiltshe worked herself up her mind to anherself up her mind to anappearanceappearance of courage. When she entered the courtcourtshe threw her eyes round itit and quickly discovereddiscovered where we were seated –seated – a tear seemed to dim her eye when she saw usus but she recovered herselfherself and gwith a lookgwith a looke ofe ofsorrowfulsorrowful affection seemed to attest her utter guiltlessness. The trial began andlistened attentively wish began andlistened attentively wish andand after the advocate against her had stated the chargecharge several witnesses were called. Several strange facts combined against herher which wouldwould have staggered any one who had not such profprof of her innocence as I had. She had been out the whole of the night on which the murdermurder had been committedcommitted and towards morning had been perceived by a farmemarket- womanfarmemarket- ^market- woman not far from the spot where the body of the murdered child had been afterwards found. He asked her whSheThe woman askedHe asked her whSheThe woman ^The woman asked^^^^her^herherwhat she did there ? – there ? ^? – forforbut ^but she looked very stang strangelystang strangely and only returned a confused ^&unintelligible^ answer e . ^&unintelligible^^^&unintelligible^ answer e . ^S^^^SShe ^She came returned to the house about eightcame returned to the house about eighto'clocko'clockandand when somesome one enquiredenquired where she had passed the nightnight she repliedreplied that she had been looking ofoffor^forforthe childchild and ^enquired^^^enquireddemanded^demandeddemandedearnestlyearnestly if any thing had been heard concerningconcerning him. When the body was broughtintothe body was broughtinto the househouse she fell into violent hystericshysterics and kept her bed for several days. The picture was then producedproducedwhich the servant had found in her pocketpocket and when ElizabethElizabeth in a faltering voicefaltering voice proved that it was the same she hadwhich theshe hadwhich ^which the an hour before the murderthe child had been missed, the murderthe child had been missed, she had^she hadshe hadplaced round his neckneck a murmur of indignationindignationand horrorhorror filled the court. Justine was then called on for her defence.then called on for her defence.God kno who reads all hearts knows how As the trial hadGod kno who reads all hearts knows how As the trial hadproceededproceeded her countenance had altered. Surprise horrorSurprise horror and miserymisery were strong lystrong ly expressed. Sometimes she struggled with her tears whtears whbutbut when she was desired to speakspeak she collected her powerspowers and spokespoke in an audibleaudible although variablevariablevoice.voice."God knows," she said, " w ho w " w ho w ^w entirely I am inocent.inocent. but I do not pretend to be acquitted on account ofto be acquitted on account of my protestations I rest my innocence a on aa on a simple explanation of the factsfactsfacts^factsfactswhich have been adduced against me,me, and I hope the character I have always borne will enclineencline my judges to a favourable interpretationinterpretation where any factfactcircumstance^circumstancecircumstanceappears doubtful or suspicious.By the permission of Mad e Lavenza I passed the evening with an aunt at Chêne. One of my cousins returning from Geneva said that he had been at the house of M. Frankenstein and suspicious.By the permission of Mad e Lavenza I passed the evening with an aunt at Chêne. One of my cousins returning from Geneva said that he had been at the house of M. Frankenstein and She then related thatthat by the permission of ElizabethElizabeth she had passed the evening of the night on which the murder was perpetratedwas perpetrated at M^M^^^the house of^the house ofthe house ofan aunt who resided in Chênewho resided in Chêne a village about a league from Geneva. On her returnreturnat ^at about nine o'clocko'clock she met a servantmanservantman who asked her if she had seen any thing of the child who was lost. She was frightened atfrightened at this account , account , ^, and passed several hours in looking for himhim when the gates of Geneva were shutshut and she passed^^^was forced to ^was forced to remained^remainremaineded s e veral s e veralhourshours of the night in ^in a cottage, butbutunable to rest or sleep,unable to rest or sleep, she rose earlyrose early that she might again endeavour to find my brother. If she had gone near the spot spote where his bodye where his bodylaylay it was without her knowledge knowledge and she had been confusedand she had been confusedThat if she had been bewildered^That if she had been bewilderedif she had been bewilderedwhen ques tionedques tioned by the market woman,market woman, was thatthatnot^notnot surprising when surprising when she was soc was so wretched onfor was soc was so wretched onfor ^for the lossloss of poor William.William. Concerning the picture she could give no account. "I know," continued the unhappy victim evictim e "how heavily and fatally this o one circumstanceo one circumstancewe weighs againstwe weighs againstmemebut I have no power of explaining itit and when I have expressed my utter ignoranceignoranceI am only left was any other is to conjectureto conjecture concerning the probabilities by which it might have been placed in my pocket. Butwas any other is to conjectureto conjecture concerning the probabilities by which it might have been placed in my pocket. ButI here also I amI here also I amat achecked at achecked ^checked standstandI believe that ^I believe that I have have no enemy onhave have no enemy onearth who that I know earth who that I know and none surely who couldwho could have been so wicked as d to destroy med to destroy meso cruelly^wantonly. Did the murderer place it there? I know of no opportunity afforded him for soso cruelly^^^wantonly. ^wantonly. Did the murderer place it there? I know of no opportunity afforded him for sodoingdoingoror if I hadhad why should he have stolen the jeweljewel to part with it ^^^^again^againagainso soon again? soon again? ^? "I commit my cause to the justice of my judgesjudges yet I see no room for hope. I beg permission to have a few witnesses examinedexamined concerning my charactercharacter and if the the nnir^irirtestimony shall not overweigh ^testimony shall not overweigh my supposed guilt is an apparentguilt is an apparent I shallmust beshallmust ^must becondemnedcondemned although I ppwouldwould pledge my salvation on my innocence." Several witnesses were calledcalled who had known her for many yearsyears and they spoke well of herher but fearfear and hatred of the crime of which they supposed her guiltyguiltyrendered them timoroustimorous and unwilling to speak^come forward .to speak^^^come forward ^come forward . Elizabeth saw even this last resource, her excellent and irreproachable dispositions &and irreproachable dispositions & conduct, about to failthefailthe accused, whenwhen although uncalledviolentlyuncalledviolentlyagitatedagitatedshe desired permission to speak.speak. "I am"am"said sheshe "the cousin of the unhappy child who was murderedmurdered or rather his sistersister for I was educated ^^^^by^bybyand lived with his parents s evers eversin since andsin since andlong beforebefore his birth;birth; it may therefore be judged indecent in me to come forward on this occasionoccasion but when I see a fellow creaturefellow creature about to perish through the cowardice of her pretended friendsfriends I wish to be ^be allowed to speakspeak that I may say what I know of her character. and Iand Iknow a great deal^know a great deal^^^am well acquainted withit. ^am well acquainted witham well acquainted withit. it. forfor I have lived in the same house with herher at one time for fivefive and afterwardsafterwards for nearly two years. During all that time^period shetime^^^period ^period she appeared to me appeared to meaa most amiable and benevolent creature.creature. She nurstnurstmy auntaunt in her last illnessillness with the greatest affection and carecareandandafter terwardsafter terwards attended her ^^^^own^ownownmother during a long & tediouslong & tediousillness willness w in a manner that excited the admiration of all who knew her.her. After which she again lived in my uncle's houseuncle's house where she was always a favourite^always a favourite^^^beloved by all thefamily ^beloved by all thebeloved by all thefamily family . Of the deceased . Of the deceasedshe was veryfond^veryfond^^^warmly attached toof the child whohas been murdered ^warmly attached towarmly attached toof the child whoof the child whohas been murdered has been murdered and acted towards him in like a most affectionatein like a most affectionateMother.forMother.for my own partpart I do not hesitate to s ay that not withstanding s ay that not withstanding ^^^^all ^all the evidence produced ^produced against herher I believe and rely io nio ^o nher perfect innocence. An She had noAn She had not temptationt ^t temptationand her dispo characterand her dispo characterwhi for such anaction ^whi for such anwhi for such anaction action is amiableforis amiablefor as to the bauble on which the chief proof rests IfsIrests IfsI if s hes he had earnestly wished for itwished for it I should have willingly given it herher so much did dodid doI rely I esteem and value her." I rely I esteem and value her." Excellent Elizabeth!Excellent Elizabeth! A murmur of approbation oowaswasheard,heard, but it was on her account^on her account^^^excited by her generousinterference^excited by her generousexcited by her generousinterferenceinterference& not in favour of poor JustineJustine on whom the public ig indignation ig indignation was^waswasturned with renewed violence, charging her with ^with the blackest in- gratitude. Forin- gratitude. For She herself wept as Elizabeth spokespoke but she did not answer. My own agitation ^^^^& anguish^& anguish& anguishwas extreme wh during the wholewh during the wholeof the trial.of the trial.The picture was I believed in herThe picture was I believed in herinnocenceinnocence I knew it. Could the monstermonsterwho had (I did not for a minute doubt) murdered my brother, aloalo in his hellish sport have ^have betrayed the innocentinnocent to death and ignominy.ignominy. I could not sustain the horror of my situa tionsitua tion and when I sawsaw that the popular voicepopular voice and the countenancecountenance of theJudgestheJudges had already condemned Xthe accusedX myunhappyvictim ^Xthe accusedX myXthe accusedX myunhappyvictim unhappyvictim herherI rushed out of the court in agony. The tortures of the accused did not equal minemine she was sustained by innocenceinnocencebut the fangs of remorse tore my bosom–bosom–I passed a night of unmingled wretchedness.wretchedness. In the morning I went to the court; my lips and throat were parched. I dared not ask the fatal question –question – but I was know n know n ^n and the officer guessed what I came to en-^what I came to en-^^^the cause of myvisit ^the cause of mythe cause of myvisit visit quire; —quire; — the ballots had been thrownthrownthey were all blak^blak^^^black^blackblack& Justine was condemned.